Chapter Text
Another mission complete.
(and a song for the start of the day)
A sweep of basically destroying all the treasure hoarder camps along the way near the base of Dragonspine was completed near noon. The sun sat high in the air, its pendulum at the 90 degree angle, straight above.
He had set off from Mondstadt quite early, raring to go from a comfortable night's sleep. And to finish now, it was such a delight, he was basically quivering from the long and much needed drunken stupor he was going to gorge in.
Not tonight!
No! But this early afternoon~
And Diluc wouldn’t come in until much later, so Charles would supply him as much as he wanted or needed. No pesky or nagging brother cutting him off at the 5th drink.
Kaeya had already cleared up much of his backlog of work and crap that had been left in the form of paperwork the last 3 weeks.
Last night he just shot off from his chair, posing with a triumph, hands outstretched to the air when the last paper was signed and dutifully filed away.
He was done!
Finally fucking done! Let’s gooo!
He was as free as a bird from heavier responsibilities…at least for a week, before they ended up accumulating once again due to the inevitable lack of manpower around HQ. Still, he could celebrate this much needed reward of liberation and work on releasing his pent up energy.
And he finished up early. Way earlier than intended.
It had been quite a while since he was out on the field so Kaeya chose to adventure, happily soaking in the sun's rays and cool air all around him. All Kaeya did for the remainder of the hours then was to venture more upwards the icy white sheets of snow and sleet.
They sparkled under the blue gaze of the sky.
The white fluffy clouds rolled onto their sides continuously.
It was refreshing and exhilarating climbing the withered and petrified branches of white trees then, as Kaeya continued to find lost and hidden treasure chests and buried adventurer backpacks.
Kaeya had picked up the knack for treasure hunting from Aether. So it was perhaps only him and Bennet who truly enjoyed just relaxing back in the traveler’s presence and just shooting the breeze, treasure hunting.
Kaeya was often his first choice for this mundane and tedious task of just looking for the sake of looking. Sometimes they’d kick out a few hours without finding much of anything. It was just done for the thrill of seeking and sightseeing.
For who knows what could crop up next? Maybe a common chest? A Precious? Luxurious? He smiled because that was the gambit and the game of it.
You never knew what you’d get if anything at all, which was the pleasure of it.
It was a lot less fruitful than fighting in domains, which was sure to give you a return, no matter how low a setting. The petrified leyline trees always gave as long as there was resin to spare. Thus, not many looked forward to accompanying Aether whenever he brought the want and desire to chest hunt.
But Kaeya was always reliably there because he would be transported back to a happier time, where Diluc and he would hide little treasures around the house and their yards…only waiting for someone to find them.
A pretty stone with ribbon.
A feather painted with chalk or doused in glitter.
The treasures weren’t ever anything so fabulous…but crafted by the means of two little boys.
Adelinde found pretty seashells in jars of salt or sugar. Crepus found little bookmarks of pressed flowers and doodles in his desk drawers or covers. Sometimes Kaeya would buy candy bars and place them around…always happy when Diluc managed to find the treasure and nommed away at them, kicking his feet on the couch. Licking away at the chocolate from the wrapper.
A tight squeeze would overcome his little heart and Kaeya would giggle.
So to hunt these chests gave Kaeya that same nostalgic tickling feeling…a faint singsong that made his heart soar. To happier…loftier times…when things were alright and the world’s weights and heaviness…fell away.
Sometimes Kaeya would find something of value in the mundane and forgotten chests too.
Filet blades and white tassels being something he eyed and stored back at his home base. Plus, he always managed to come back home with heaps of natural materials, which always helped Timaeus, Sucrose, and Albedo.
He would deliver to Barbara chili’’s. To Mona’s place some mushrooms. To Diona his favorite calla lilies. To Rosaria fatui emblems and he’d give them to Diluc too…even though he knew that Diluc probably had thousands and plenty.
Still, he was delighted to see that his ex-family wasn’t absolutely as livid that Kaeya was daring to breach his personal space, as Diluc had been when he first returned to Mondstadt.
So this was okay…Kaeya…was…glad for this. Even if it was just very little interaction with the man.
Kaeya stretched and decided to venture more up, as he scaled the cold frosty mountain sides…running over rock with ease and gritting down when he had to scale a steeper slope.
Every monster he met on the way he finished off. His sad gaze went upon their masks, quiet and steady. It did make him happy though that some monsters as of late had made the fabled dance of the wit, mimicking the first passages of the fallen warriors of times bygone…
He would not attack them then as they’d simply stare each other down and walk away. Kaeya would be highly aware of any movements they did and they did none, not wishing to engage in any battle with him.
This dance he would always respect as it meant something…at least something to him.
There was once an ivory and circular arena in the tower of the mages and brute, right near the top, that reached out to the ceiling of their cave. Who vied for the powers of void and light.
To engage each other, each Khaenri’ahn would waltz onto the stage and begin their rhapsody of dance. With grandiose poise and or temperamental moves that raged like the stories of storms and nature’s violence, they danced and fought.
Never aiming to kill, but only maim.
And if one was lucky…if one stirred something up to someone in Celestia from their dances display, they’d become blessed with void and light. Not exactly a vision, Kaeya noticed, looking back at it now…but something very similar.
Those that still had enough humanity to remember…he’d spare them. As they too spared Kaeya from another battle.
He sighed as he continued on his merry way.
The smell of pine filled the air as he collected some pinecones along the way. Then Kaeya happily found a cave that had beautiful treasure as he eyed the beauty of a precious chest, just waiting for him.
“Ah. Awesome,” he smiled.
Opening it he placed the things away in his interdimensional backpack, which was gifted as a subspace for vision holders. It couldn’t hold a lot compared to the traveler's backpack…but it was enough for most vision wielders and a great thing to have.
Kaeya mostly had bandages and ointments for scrapes, disinfectant for wounds, and some dried foods and nuts for light snacking on the go.
Kaeya rarely ever got sick, so this was one of the things he did not have. He had painkillers which was the next best thing, he reasoned. Oh no. He ran out a bit ago.
He needs to restock. No matter.
There was no cold medicine in the pack. Or anything of a higher grade, which he was going to regretfully experience as so, as the day progressed.
After reaching the peak of the mountain of cold and snow…he marveled over the beauty of the landscape and the horizon below. Puffs of air billowed out from his panting mouth as he felt the red on his cheeks and nose twinge a bit from the over exertion of the climb.
Last time he came he had come with Aether, Noelle, and Diluc. They had set the pillar of a bygone era up into the air, unlocking old domains that had laid dormant for quite a long time.
Kaeya even got a few good pieces for artifacts courtesy of Aether basically stating he was going to use up all his fragile resin to wake up the trees for their artifacts.
Because apparently Kaeya “deserved” them.
Kaeya had become suddenly mute and shy…his face burning from sheer embarrassment because only Aether could state such a thing with such a straight face at him.
Kaeya remembers shooting his eyes at Diluc who just fumbled with his glove because he was laughing into them…trying to muffle his cackling down. Did he really make that much of an obviously disturbed expression, so much so that it was funny? He lightly pouted, grumbling a small hiss.
Kaeya knew he didn’t deserve things…not anymore.
Still, it was nice to see Noelle also laugh because surely the face of shock he had suddenly manifested was hilarious. Aether on the other hand, only looked at him somewhat pitifully, a sad smile strewn on.
Aether clapped his gloved hand on Kaeya’s shoulder stating once more, “Kaeya, you deserve, the awesomest artifacts ever. I’m gonna get them for you. Promise.”
Diluc and Noelle then took off their giggles and nodded, suddenly becoming serious and determined on a mission. As they all willing wasted the whole day away, fighting the domain over and over again till it became annoying and tedious.
Kaeya returned that day to Mondstadt with a set he could only dream of…wondering which weapon he should slot out and marry to…as he tested his power on enemies with newfound awe. Never had the damage he produced been that grand.
It only felt like he did nips and small bites of cold. Now his wisps and spurts of ice hurt and could damage and stun. It was awesome. He did notice a drawback to it though. He’d tire out much more often as it put on more strain.
So he was almost tempted to switch back to his old and true set of artifacts.
But Aether had helped give this to him.
And Noelle and even Diluc, who didn’t even like him anymore…worked on it for him… Diluc being the one who made the most difference in that domain, whereas he did almost no damage at all.
So Kaeya had to wear it. He had to and he did.
Climbing back down was no easy task, as Kaeya opted to glide down for most of the part. However gliding in the sky of Dragonspine came with a few setbacks. For one, the cold settled into the bones faster this way.
So by the time his feet slammed into the ground, he was already shivering and running for fire brazier or a seelie post… or at least anything to get him warm.
Kaeya made it to the adventurer’s post, cooking up some radish soup for himself alongside the chef Harris…as they both sat down on the brittle and wooden benches.
Kaeya used his long lithe leg as the table rather than to occupy the full one right near him. He didn’t want to intrude in the merry laughter and joy of the adventurer team camped out here.
He was just content being closeby as he enjoyed his soup, feeling the warmth enter his soul.
Kaeya had chosen to give the natural materials to Cyprus’s older sister, Iris, as she thanked him for the goods. Some materials like Starsilver ore were difficult to come by, and if he could help them have a few for any traveler willing to smelt them into a claymore…then there it was ready for the taking.
The sky then began to turn slightly gray.
A faint echo of thunder lighting the skies.
Kaeya looked up and found a drop of water falling on his nose. A light pitter patter of rain then descended upon them creating a torrent of sound.
It pressed all the tree branches down and the grass as the adventurers made way to gather their belongings and move it into a tent.
“Kaeya, stay,” Iris whimmed to him, however he just nodded in disagreement.
“No. Sorry. Gotta go. Thank you though!”
Kaeya quickly bid the people goodbye as he made his way back home. There was no way he was staying stuck out there, not with the advent of beautiful mounds of alcohol already waiting.
It was early too. Around 5 pm.
Tons of time for drinking, as he planned.
So as Kaeya took the trek back home did he not notice the sluggish sensation of a heat entering his chest. It did not simply come from the soup. No.
Kaeya continued running in the rain…not minding the chill and heat, which did perplex him. Was he hot from just running? Or was he cold from being so drenched? Soon he was tiring out…huffing…still not aware of anything out of the ordinary.
The rain was heavy now as he gritted his teeth and cursed a little…the joy from the beautiful scenery and treasure chests being snuffed out, as he couldn’t see anymore what was in front of him.
Tripping over a rock he failed to see, landing him face first into the mud just made him groan out in frustration.
“Well, well, it seems I gotta take some refuge now. Shit.”
Kaeya got himself up moping, as he went towards a tree and lingered under it. The rain continued to fall then as he slumped down and huddled closer to his legs, hugging them tightly.
Something was…off now.
He was…hot…and cold?
He blinked as he wearily brought his hand up to his forehead. It was warm.
Warm.
Unusual.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he hissed to himself…not very angry but not pleased.
He was sick and he should have known better than to run in the rain…but he was getting so close back home! If he could just get back to his apartment and start a bath…sit in the heat of its waters and sink in it in relief…he would! Then he’d buy some medicine and go to Sara’s for dinner.
Sit there a bit and then go to Angel’s Share.
So maybe he’d have to run into Diluc instead of Charles manning the bar.
He could live with that.
He had a whole week of getting shitfaced anyways and it was just getting started.
Kaeya magiked out his spare whisky…something he only liked to drink sometimes in ode to Crepus, his father. Deeming it time to at least…get something in him…he took out the dried meat and drink…miserably sitting in the puddle of rain as he worked on getting energy.
Being sick out in this storm was not safe.
He was just glad that there was no wind making it outrageous. Or else he’d really be in trouble.
And as if Venti was pissed…the wind picked up as the branches began to sway with a harsher note. Kaeya crouched into himself more, becoming smaller as he sighed tragically.
The storm continued as it rattled the windows of those inside in their comfy chairs of Mondstadt city.
Jean looked out at the lightning as she closed the window’s drapes.
Diona’s ears flicked back and forth as she looked outside to the streets, watching for more customers to come in, reminding them to clean their shoes on the entrance carpets before entering further.
Barbara and Rosaria sang their hymns in the group of nun’s as they sang for their 6 o’clock daily masses.
Not many came due to the storm, but it didn’t stop Barbara from singing joyfully and aloud her song, eyes closed and arms stretched.
As Rosaria sang off tune and mumbled low every time Barbato’s name came up in song, her face pressed to the musical sheet, very close.
Diluc had arrived before the storm as Charles and him set up for tonight's customers.
Adventurers clocked in and clocked out as Cyprus held the door for them open.
The knights who had to patrol in this downpour, changed out of their day outfits into their rain gear, tired and mumbling about the weather.
Everything was as it should be.
And so as Kaeya continued his way back home, did he see an abandoned treasure hoarder's tent and he lit up.
“Safety!”
Olive green tent and all its glory shone like a rod to him as he just practically jumped into it, admiring the wet hay and small flint and other left items with joy. This would have to be enough to override the storm. So Kaeya buckled down and took off his clothing…as he changed into something else.
He was lucky he had at least 3 outfits in his storage and it felt like a godsend changing into something that wasn’t sticking onto him constantly. The relief was only momentary however, as the rain and wet still managed to seep through in some places.
The hay was damp too and the ground was cold.
Still, it was a heck of a lot better than being under the tree as Kaeya felt a wave of unsettling feelings emerge from somewhere…Like he had done something like that before. And then it hit him. The day he was abandoned by his father.
(a song for sadness of a young boy)
Waiting under a tree for hours… for the man who would eventually become his real father and family.
He shivered from the thought…because it all felt so surreal… everything about his old father to the new one.
Kaeya sometimes cried at night because he swore he was forgetting how they both looked like. Kaeya did not have the privilege to take anything from both his old homes… not even a photo as he took the fight with Diluc as a sentence to not set foot in the Manor or the Winery.
He should have… returned for his things.
Adelinde had stored them away for him…but he never felt like he deserved to have any of them returned. After all, they had been bought for him by Crepus…someone he couldn’t be next to when he had been dying.
How could he laugh at the one he loved so much when Crepus had been in so much pain? Crepus had been everything for him and Diluc and instead of being there for them both, he just hung back from the shock of it all…relieved…that he’d never have to tell Crepus where he was from.
That his appearance in their lives was not of a mistake…but of one made from intention.
And that he was…there to hurt their city. The city he loves now so very much…and perhaps always did.
For was it destiny to become a wanderer?
The wayward star hidden in the ground…to a star that could enjoy the sun and its light?
Kaeya laid down and tried to relax then.
His mind was just being cruel to him. Nothing new there.
He should not rest in the happy gaze of his late father…those steady arms and soft voice. Always encouraging him in everything and always happy…to be with him. How loved did he feel in that home? Where Adelinde, Elzer, Crepus, and Diluc showered him with all their affection and time?
It was simply bliss.
A dream.
A dream that ended and hardened like stone…yet nonetheless…he will always treasure it for what it once stood. Something to always be remembered.
A moment frozen in time…a moment frozen in eternity.
Kaeya coughed only once before realizing that perhaps he was getting sleepy. Surely, a small nap wouldn’t be so bad. It could help him regain energy and stave off this storm.
Some part of his brain flustered at the danger behind this notion. He knew he shouldn’t sleep. He should stay awake throughout the storm…make sure he got home safe.
But he was feeling so exhausted now…as if all the energy he had prior was simply seeped out, like the color of the tea to water.
Time passed as the rain continued.
Kaeya jolted then awake…as he woke up to the continuous patter of rain. His throat was dry and he felt actually miserable as he tried to sit up. He leaned heavily on the wooden rod that held up the roof of this small tent.
He was…oh so…very tired.
What…is this?
He was so hot…it was terrible. He swayed back and forth, as numb feelings of bile and vomit surged hotly up.
“Ugh-“
He spit to the side…wincing from the taste. Which was also awful.
So he got sicker…great.
Kaeya grumbled as he kneeled and crawled forward, unzipping the tent as splashes of water hurled into his face. He abruptly shut it, blinking in stupor.
‘Has the storm gotten worse?’
Daring once more, he peeked with his one eye at the gray misery in front and all around him as jets of water pummeled into the ground like the world was wanting to hurt. He frowned at the weather, at himself, at ever understanding that such a beautiful day could eventually turn into an awful night.
It was dark out now and he had no idea what time it was…and how long he had been there. It had been long enough for him to feel shittier, though, as he shivered from both the cold and heat.
Glancing down at his vision on his belt he frowned again at the slightly dimmer color coming off from it…signaling a paler color when its user was sick or compromised in health.
Kaeya remained then in the tent, waiting for the storm to subside…only to realize that it was going to continue for quite some time longer. Realizing he could only sleep…he chose to rest, hugging the hay closer to his chest and away from the spot he vomited in.
This time he took his sword out, ready to strike should an enemy decide to come onto him.
Keeping his hand steady on his sword, he wondered if that was rational. Some poor traveler like him could also look for someplace to rest or stay in. In that case he could potentially harm someone innocent if he awoke in a startle.
Would they be Fatui? Hoarder? Hilichurl?
Most likely than not, it was going to be one of these three rather than some merchant or upstanding citizen, because no one really dares to camp in Hoarder tents. So he opted to continue his grip on the hilt…before closing his eyes to a blur of messy emotions that burned from the inside out.
He fell asleep to the soft murmurings of Diluc wishing Crepus to return and stay…out in the rain…and to his biological father telling him to stay under the tree for Crepus to come.
Adjacent and in tandem both notions were…both the ones he loved departed…until there was only hurt left inside.
Diluc watched the clock as he paced back and forth, rag in hand as he put the wet cups on the drying rack. Collecting mora, making drinks, cleaning and sweeping the debris of light snacks and spilled alcohol, he worked swiftly like he always did.
Patiently he waited for the needy and obsessed driven ex-brother who loved drinks more than life to arrive.
And although Diluc did detest this attribute in Kaeya, he realized that they did not interact anywhere else in the city. If Kaeya never came…then he’d never see Kaeya again.
And they only group up every now and then on a commission or adventure whenever Aether was around. And Aether wasn’t always around.
The traveler loved working with them, the two estranged ex-brothers, and either a healer; be it Diona, Barbara, Bennet, or Noelle. Diluc couldn’t understand why Aether always dragged him along when it was clear he’d be okay with only Kaeya.
Still, Aether was such a kind kid…always understanding that maybe Diluc needed chances to open up…and speak his mind when it came to Kaeya.
Absent-mindedly, the time came and passed as the night neared 2 am and no captain was in sight.
“Must be busy then,” he mumbled to himself as he counted the mora of the night and tallied it all up.
Diluc closed the tavern and took tired steps up the stairs till he got to the 3rd floor. Head hitting the pillow he squirmed into the covers as relaxed as he could be.
The night had been slower thanks to the rain. It was nice to have a breather than usually attending the drunkards on those hectic nights. He wished it would rain forever if it could lag the customers like this.
It meant losing some money, but it gave his shoulders and constant motions a break. Which was nice.
The 2nd night came then as Diluc went to cover for Charles.
It had rained lightly all day and he had been able to get back to the winery with no problems…only a sniffling nose that was quickly cut off with a hearty soup that Adelinde worked in quickly.
Night came once more and there was no sign of the captain.
It was still pouring rain but it was much lighter in comparison than the night before and the day today.
Kaeya should have come in…unless he went to Cat’s Tail.
Diluc sighed as he surmised the man did just that.
It was in Kaeya’s every right to go to other establishments.
He just felt slightly sour at Diona and Margaret then for taking that particular customer away. Though he knew Kaeya liked playing his card games every now and then, lounging back, rather than working intel stuff in his tavern.
It was okay that Kaeya didn’t come in.
Maybe he’ll see him tomorrow. Maybe even give the fellow a free drink ‘on the house.’
The 3rd day was strange.
The rain didn’t let up as he decided to come in early, picking up personally with his carriage the bi-monthly goods he bought for the winery from Blanche. He inspected the 200 potatoes, 200 carrots, plus all the other goods he asked to be shipped to this store, as he had Elzer, Connor, and a few other of his staff lug them back along to the carriage.
It was strange then as he saw Jean out of all people out in the rain talking with other knights with a stern expression, one that exuded all professionalism and concern.
Concern…over something.
That was never a good sign from what he knew. He was about to ask her, deciding he should at least ask…or something… when he froze.
She was walking straight up to him.
He gulped down some sense of dread as he flexed his gloves, the umbrella over his head tipping slightly forward as she came into his space.
“Good morning Jean, is- something a foot? Do you need me as the Darknight Hero…or?”
He asked that part of the question quieter as he eyed those around him, which thankfully was no one around.
Jean nodded no before asking in a hushed tone, “Have you seen Kaeya lately? He hasn’t…been at work for 2 days…and we’re actually going out to his haunts…as we haven’t received word of his return from Dragonspine.”
Diluc just tensed up as he almost wanted to smack her…metaphorically as it may because Kaeya on Dragonspine was never a bright idea.
Kaeya froze up too fast on that mountain.
“No. I haven’t seen him. What was he doing there,” he asked instead…already fretting internally inside.
“His usual weekly sweep. We send Albedo, Eula, Amber, and him every week to check up on activity. This is the reason why no new Fatui have been setting up camp nearby to harm citizens and we have had less hilichurl sightings. There also has been less adventurer accidents thanks to this initiative. From what we heard as we sent our bird in the storm…Kaeya had made it back down from Dragonspine and even had supper there. Harris said he made delicious soup with him and they served it to everyone there. He was told to stay before the storm started. Iris had urged him to stay, but Kaeya cheerfully said his farewells…and somehow he hasn’t returned. This is serious now…you haven’t run into him. Just as I thought. He is missing. How? He should have came back. It is safe from there to here…well…relatively safe enough. I was right to put this as a priority alert for a missing knight. Something happened. Would you like to assist Diluc? Your help would be greatly appreciated.”
Diluc was shocked because the absences to the tavern made sense then.
Kaeya…never made it home? Where did he go? What happened to him?
Suddenly, he was furious.
“Why are you guys just about to search now? 2 days have passed Jean! Anything could have happened and only now do you guys react,” he raised his voice, stretching his arm to the wet cobblestone floor.
“Dammit! What if he was kidnapped or…” the words shriveled up in his throat as he was unable to pluck out the words lodged there.
‘Died or was killed,’ was on both their minds as Jean just piped up, indignation in her tone.
“I! I understand where your anger is coming from. Honestly, I’m angry at myself too!”
She puffed up her cheeks, not caring about being in the public as she stared Diluc down.
“I know I should have done something sooner rather than later, but that is why I’m going out on the field personally for the search. Kaeya always gets back to me by pigeon or other…this is very much out of his character to not reach out. So I’m going to find him. Now, I ask again…will you help? I’m giving you the okay and clear to search out with us.”
Diluc was still distraught but he agreed as they both handshaked on it.
“Where will you guys be looking? Where should I head for,” Diluc said, the stern glint of his eyes roaring like a fire.
He had to go and go fast. Find that silly drunk…and bring him back home.
Diluc’s staff looked over at him with hesitation as he paused Jean for a second and jogged back to them.
“Ah…be right back. I was in the middle of grocery shopping. Gonna send them ahead,” he stated.
“Alright,” Jean replied as she returned back to the other group of knights waiting nearby for more orders.
“Young master, what is it,” Elzer asked with 2 bags on each arm.
“Kaeya has gone missing,” Diluc solemnly recounted as Elzer’s eyes hardened.
Connor sagged as he stated, “Understood. We should bring back all the stuff then…and look around the winery, if possible? Would that help, a little?”
Diluc nodded, his eyes warming up.
Of course, he had such thoughtful staff. For this he was happy.
“That would help…especially if we can find something…like a trail or something around. Please get to it and stay dry and safe.”
Diluc’s staff departed with their bagged goods as they hobbled to the entrance gates where their carriage stood.
Diluc went back to Jean who saluted away a group of knights, as each one stiffly nodded to Diluc in return.
“So, where should I go,” Diluc asked once again, crossing his arms.
Jean already had a map rolled out as she held her umbrella over it.
“I actually want you to go from the Winery’s trail to the adventurer’s camp in Dragonspine. We’re going to go the other route and branch out from there. Does this sound good? If you find anything just send a pigeon here. Lisa will receive it and send it back to me.”
“Understood.”
With a clap, Diluc sped off then…wondering if he can settle this aching pain in his heart.
He just couldn’t believe that out of all people Kaeya wouldn’t return back home… and the dread of Kaeya defecting pooled in his gut. They weren’t that hateful towards each other anymore…but he was still mean to the man.
Kaeya was also flowery, elusive, outchatting and boxing him into arguments…so many that he would perhaps only resort to snippy retorts back.
Still… they could…be together in each other's presence…so long as they needed to.
Where was Kaeya?
Diluc had gotten to the carriage before they set off as the horses trotted forward, the light rain falling on the carriage’s rooftop.
The sinking feeling continued as Elzer tried to console the young master a bit, knowing that Diluc was brooding silently as he stared out the window.
Kaeya woke up with a start as he hacked out another weak and feeble cough.
He has been coming in and out of consciousness for quite some time now…not able to move nor even turn his head. Everything felt too heavy and he felt so thirsty and so hungry and tired…yet it was as if every fiber of his being was opposing the notion to even get up.
Move.
His bone ached and chest hurt.
It hurt.
His chest felt like lead and to even turn but even an inch, felt like so much pain…that he just laid there…unable to comprehend how he got this bad.
Bleary eyed he stared at the tent's entrance…the water now leaking on him in droplets, that he couldn’t feel anymore because he was numb. Numb to all of it except for the thrumming pain in his head and chest…how his heart beat spurred on erratically did trouble him.
It also scared him.
He had asthma before as a kid because of the difference between the air quality between the two lands. So to wheeze this painfully brought him back….but not in a good way.
He was so hot but also so cold.
Whining he coughed out again, a wet hack before groaning from the pain of coughing.
It tired him out. He was tired. His mind told him to sleep it off again, but he struggled weakly against it.
He needed…to move now…
He’s been sleeping too much and a part of his mind told him that if he didn’t get medicine soon…or proper care…that maybe he’d sleep forever.
He was feeling it…crappy beyond belief…and he was starting to become afraid from the fact that he was so alone.
No one went to look for him.
No one went to find him.
He was just here in this tent all alone as the sound of rain was the only accompaniment to his story.
The only sound in his symphony.
Maybe rain defined it at this point.
Who is to say that it isn’t?
He doesn’t know, as he sagged more onto the ground…feeling clammy and shivering from the heat. Shivering was still a good sign from what he knew…although he was also just so out of it.
Kaeya deemed it then…that he should leave the tent. Maybe…maybe some traveler will see him on the ground…
He had to brave it.
Risk it. Despite how shitty it felt to even move.
“Ahhhhh.”
So as he leaned forward and crawled…because that was what he was reduced to…to crawling. His back met the open plane of air and rain which was icy and pelting hard on him.
It hurts to breathe. It hurt to have the cold of the dirt seep into his arms and knees.
He cried as the wind picked up.
Was he being punished?
For something?
Then he laughed because he was Khaenri’ahn living in Celestia’s lands… of course he’s being punished.
He shouldn’t even be alive… as a human…or at all.
Kaeya stared at the mud as he plopped one muddy hand over the other…as little pebbles and rocks cut into his glove and knee.
He…had to…keep going.
Then Kaeya peered around to get some sense of where he was…only to realize that he was still far. However…the winery…was close. As close as anything that he was going to get.
It was still 20 minutes away on foot.
Kaeya moaned as he just laid on the ground defeated.
How long was it going to take, crawling there. It took all the willpower in him not to scream…if he even could.
He tried to.
His voice cracked miserably as it dispersed into an echo.
The notion of doing so instigated a horrible cough till he doubled over and fell to his side. The coughs were harder then as he felt the lack of air and hurried to get up.
“Ah, ah,” he whined.
Knees wobbled as he coughed then something dark into his hand. Kaeya weakly opened his eye to find blood on the mud…and he just stared and stared at it in disbelief.
Was… he dying?
“Hah,” he raspily coughed out… a bitter smile to his face.
Of course.
The high from the beauty of the world…to this shit fall.
Kaeya nevertheless shook his head…warring the throbbing in both his chest and head away.
Everything was becoming foggy sort of.
He felt like he was sort of floating…or sinking…he had no distinction between the two as he trembled, pushing himself forward.
“D-don’t stop. Can’t stop…please…” he gritted out.
He sniffled, crying… because as he kept going the soft rain didn’t stop. He wanted it to end now…the rain. At least…then…it would slightly be better, right?
Then a dream parted like the sea for him…as the trees seemed to melt away and he was at the beach suddenly with Crepus and Diluc.
Kaeya was small again…with his feet knee deep the dream as he looked around surprised.
He blinked.
He hadn’t been here, had he?
He was somewhere else…had been…somewhere else.
Instead, a happy Diluc and a happy Crepus came to his side as Diluc screeched joyfully, “Kae, Look! Look! Look what I found? Aren’t they pretty?”
Soft freckles painted Diluc’s face…something he grew out of as he got older. It was nostalgic and Kaeya really looked at the little Diluc who was with him right now.
He was overwhelmed. This felt so nice. It was like coming back home.
“Papa Crepus,” Kaeya whispered looking longingly at the father he thought he’d never see again. ‘So that’s how you look like,’ Kaeya’s mind registered as he felt a tear roll down his eye.
Both showed him the beautiful seashells that they found…unaware of his torment.
Kaeya blinked then…because wherever he had been it was horrible.
To be here now…it was much nicer.
Thus he waved off that strange feeling of loss and misery and immersed himself in the dream. At least here he could smile and be free…free with the ones he loved so much.
Crepus placed his sun hat on Kaeya’s hair as Kaeya noticed the sunburnt blister on his nose start to sting.
He laughed. He remembered this day. He forgot to put on sunblock lotion and was like a red lobster the whole day afterwards.
Bittersweet memory. Bitter and sweet.
Young Diluc bumped into his shoulder as they both walked out onto the sand and to where Adelinde and Elzer drank lemonades and had appetizers ready for them to eat.
Eating…that seemed nice.
Drinking…something…
That seemed nice.
Feeling warm…as Crepus placed a towel on both the boys as Diluc feverishly tried to dry out his knots, made him laugh.
This was all so nice.
This was so nice.
Could he stay here?
Forever?
Kaeya slightly smiled with his eyes closed as he laid on the dirt path, sprawled out…panting hard from the heat and cold.
The rain fell around him, surrounding him like a gem on the dirt road.
Ready to be forgotten.
Diluc was running around when he stopped near a tree. The camp to Dragonspine was a little far…but hopefully…there had to be a sign of where Kaeya went.
Maybe he willfully left? Or was lured away? A battle? But he hadn’t seen anything yet.
It was only when he kept walking lost in thought did he see something from the corner of his eye.
There was something ahead on the path…something on the ground.
Diluc wiped away the wet rain from his brows and lashes to focus.
What was there?
Then the world stilled as did the rain and all the sound. His lips parted as his gloved hand went down.
His heartbeat quickened as Diluc found his mind working faster before he understood what was even happening.
He was already running.
That's all he knew.
That he was running and zooming forward because- because something so familiar was there.
And there laid his ex-brother, eyes closed with mud all over his clothing.
On his hair, on his knees, pants, everything.
Diluc immediately yelled out…hoping it’d stir the man…and yet nothing.
Then with a sink, he shot down onto the ground right beside Kaeya.
“Kaeya! Oh no. What happened…what…,” he rasped out.
Kaeya was cold to the touch which made him gasp…but as he flew his hand to Kaeya’s neck…it was warm…warm…too warm for an average cryo user.
“Kaeya, what happened? Can you hear me? Kaeya?!”
Diluc scooped Kaeya up into a bridal carry, not wanting to remain there any longer. Kaeya had been facing his direction…meaning he had been coming from somewhere.
All these questions he could ask later…as he jogged frightfully upset and torn at the silence his brother held. Kaeya’s hair languidly wavered in the wind, as his parted lips seemed to pant in pain.
The breathing was shallow as the shine from Kaeya perhaps didn’t all come from the rain…but sweat and sickness. What held him up? What happened?
(and a song for the sad feelings inside)
He had to keep running. His baby brother is in his hands so quiet and so still.
"Dammit! Dammit!"
Ramming the front wooden majestic doors of the Winery open he screamed for Adelinde.
The staff came out as they saw the bloodshot eyes of Diluc, who looked like an absolute mess from his run, along with the passed out captain in his arms.
“Run a bath…need to see…the state…he is in.”
Millie straightened her back as she clicked her heels together and went jogging up the stairs, face already pale, but shimmering with determination.
Adelinde was already hovering, checking the temperature from Kaeya’s forehead.
“He’s feverish…where did you find him, young master?”
“Just on the ground. He was making his way here. I don’t know where he came from,” Diluc shook as he gently laid his brother on the carpet near the fireplace.
He had to check for injuries so as he stripped Kaeya down not caring for the sudden intimacy of the action…although it had been years since he had ever touched the man.
Adelinde already ran for the infirmary kit in the bathrooms. Moco stood by waiting for orders.
Diluc cupped the cheek of his ex-brother who looked much more sick now, now that he was in the lighting of the inside. He was angry with himself as he clenched his fists.
“Tell Jean that I’ve found him and to send a healer to the winery immediately. Use my hawk. She can get to her the fastest.”
“Of course! I’ll alert her right away!”
Moco shuttled away to the kitchen already looking for a scrawl of paper and ink pot as Diluc focused on his ex-family.